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In-House Plant Disease Diagnostic Tests
RCE of Atlantic County now has the ability to test crop samples for several common diseases using Immunostrips. This is a rapid diagnostic test yielding results in less than 30 min. Samples can be brought to the Mays Landing RCE office. To cover the cost of supplies and ensure the continuation of this service, a fee of $10 per test run will be charged. This service is not a replacement for the Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory in New Brunswick, as they offer more extensive services. This can, however, provide timely answers at a lower cost than traditional PCR testing. Plant diseases that can be diagnosed at this time are:
- Phytophthora spp. (Phytophthora root and crown rot of tomato, pepper, cucurbits)
- Rhizoctonia solani (Rhizoctonia root and crown rot of many crops)
- Clavibacter michiganensis (Bacterial canker of tomato)
- Xanthomonas spp. (Bacterial spot of tomato and pepper, black rot of Brassicas)
- Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV, cucurbits, tomatoes, peppers)
To submit a sample for testing, bring an infected plant tissue sample to the Mays Landing RCE office or contact Patrick McMullen (County Agent of Atlantic Co.)
In-House Soil pH Test
Soil pH can be tested in our Mays Landing office for $2 per sample by bringing approximately 1 cup of soil to the office. For more extensive soil nutrient testing, please refer to the Rutgers Soil Testing Lab.
Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory
This lab, housed on the New Brunswick Campus, conducts comprehensive soil testing for commercial growers and homeowners. Growing media and compost tests are available as well. Soil test kits can be purchased in the Mays Landing office. More information and submission instructions can be found on their website: Soil Testing Laboratory | Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory and Nematode Detection Service
This lab on the New Brunswick campus processes plant samples displaying symptoms of insect pest, disease, or nematode damage to identify the causal organism using appropriate laboratory diagnostic methods. More information and submission instructions can be found on their website: Plant Diagnostic Laboratory and Nematode Detection Service | Rutgers Cooperative Extension